Executive Director, Audit

Trustmark • Lake Forest, IL

3d • $136,933 - $204,463

About The Position

Trustmark is seeking an Executive Director, Audit to advance a disciplined, risk-based audit program that strengthens the company’s control environment, improves audit rigor, and prepares the organization for public-company-level expectations for internal controls, documentation, remediation, and governance. The role proactively identifies emerging risks, partners with senior leaders to drive sustainable control improvements, and communicates audit insights to the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), Audit Committee, external auditors, and other key stakeholders.

The Executive Director manages day-to-day Internal Audit operations and oversees independent ICFR control testing, audit quality, evidence expectations, issue escalation, and remediation follow-up. The role leads and develops a high-performing Audit team, serves as a trusted delegate and liaison for the Vice President, Audit, and partners with independent auditors and the ICFR Steering Committee. It also directs initiatives to modernize audit practices and improve controls, issue management, and audit insights through data, analytics, and continuous improvement.

The position reports audit results, control environment themes, remediation progress, and risk implications to senior leadership and governance forums. Trustmark describes its culture as collaborative, diverse, inclusive, and grounded in respect, trust, and welcoming people of different backgrounds and experiences.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive internal audit, risk, controls, public accounting, or related experience, including significant leadership experience in audit management or enterprise controls.
• Ability to lead teams, influence senior stakeholders, and build trusted partnerships while maintaining independence and objectivity.
• Strong understanding of internal controls, ICFR, risk-based audit methodology, control documentation, deficiency evaluation, and remediation practices.
• Experience leveraging audit technology, data analytics, automation, and continuous monitoring to improve audit effectiveness, risk identification, audit coverage, and assurance efficiency.
• Executive presence and ability to communicate complex audit, risk, and control matters clearly, confidently, and concisely to senior leadership and governance audiences.
• Proactive business orientation, ability to anticipate risk and drive accountability, and ability to recommend practical solutions that strengthen the control environment.

Nice To Haves

• Insurance, financial services, or other regulated industry experience.
• CPA, CIA, CISA, or another relevant professional certification.
• Experience implementing and overseeing audit analytics, continuous auditing, automation, audit management systems, and emerging technologies, including AI-enabled capabilities, within an internal audit function.

Responsibilities

• Strengthen the internal control environment using public-company-style rigor in risk assessment, control design, documentation, testing, deficiency evaluation, and remediation follow-up.
• Advise the ELT and Audit Committee based on audit activity, control trends, emerging risks, remediation status, and business priorities.
• Manage day-to-day Internal Audit operations, ensuring audit plans, testing approaches, reporting, and follow-up are risk-based, high quality, timely, and aligned with enterprise priorities.
• Develop, coach, and lead a high-performing Audit team with technical depth, business acumen, accountability, independence, and credibility.
• Serve as a key liaison and trusted delegate for the Vice President, Audit with the Audit Committee, external auditors, and executive stakeholders.
• Oversee Internal Audit’s independent ICFR control testing, including testing quality, evidence expectations, and issue escalation.
• Consult with the ICFR Steering Committee on remediation discipline and readiness for increased regulatory or public-company expectations.
• Anticipate and assess complex business, financial, operational, technology, and compliance risks, and recommend practical, risk-balanced solutions.
• Coordinate with independent auditors on audit scope, reliance strategy, timing, evidence expectations, and resolution of control matters.
• Direct initiatives to modernize audit practices, strengthen controls, improve issue management, and enhance audit insights through data, analytics, and continuous improvement.
• Prepare and deliver executive-ready reporting on audit results, control environment themes, remediation progress, and risk implications.
• Perform other duties as needed or assigned.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• FSA and HSA
• 401(k) plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Back-up care for children, adults, and elders
• Health and wellness initiatives
• Wellness program that enables employees to participate in health initiatives to reduce insurance premiums
• May be eligible for a bonus

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive